A faithful retelling of the Arthurian legends--all liberties are explained in the foreword note. It is very accessible and directed at the middle-grade/young adult audience. *Spoiler alert* As a fan of Merlin, it's always hard to see him leave the scene early on, still it's very well handled and his influence is definitely present throughout the tale. And, as a historian, I love the details about the spirit, rituals, and cultural adjustments of early Christianity. It is very much worth powering through the 800 pages.